By the mid-16th century, Ningbo had become one of the world’s largest free-trade ports. Interestingly, while Europeans flocked to Ningbo at the time, they were largely unaware of the existence of Zhejiang.

It is by no means an exaggeration to say that Ningbo came first, and Zhejiang followed.

To this day, Ningbo remains one of the top destinations for foreign investment in China. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, Ningbo attracted $11.929 billion in actual foreign direct investment and approved 2,857 new foreign-funded enterprises.

Two years ago, with the support of GuChuan United, Canadian company Nixis established a presence in Fenghua, Ningbo, to build a brand-new production base.

The arrival of this global leader in heat treatment technology has effectively enhanced the completeness of Ningbo’s manufacturing industrial chain, demonstrated Ningbo’s appeal, and further validated Ningbo’s strength.

Powerful Partnerships for the Future

The Story of Ningbo’s “Single Champion” in Shaping the City

In fact, this Canadian leader in the heat treatment industry had previously been operating in Wuxi for many years.

The choice of Ningbo as the new location was by no means a coincidence.

Since 2019, Ningbo has vigorously developed its “246” trillion-yuan industrial clusters and strived to become a National Pilot Zone for High-Quality Manufacturing Development, treating manufacturing as the “foundation of the city and the cornerstone of its strength.”

Today, Ningbo’s total economic output has surged to 12th place nationwide, its industrial value-added has risen to 7th among Chinese cities, and it boasts 83 national-level “Single Champion” enterprises in manufacturing—the highest number in the country.

Two years ago, when Kuwata Consulting advised the company on its decision to locate in Ningbo, it was precisely because of the city’s promising development prospects.

Founded in 1984, Nicest has consistently dedicated itself to surface engineering and heat treatment technologies for metal parts, earning an excellent reputation among clients in sectors requiring high-quality heat treatment, such as automotive components, aerospace, and industrial tools and dies.

The company’s atmospheric nitriding technology is globally leading, and leveraging this advantage, it has established multiple subsidiaries worldwide.

As Ningbo’s manufacturing sector undergoes a transformation, industrial sectors such as precision parts, extrusion molding, gears, machining, and plastic products are all inextricably linked to heat treatment technology.

As an industry leader with robust technical capabilities, this company is poised to contribute significantly to the development of Ningbo’s manufacturing sector.

Continuing to Deepen Engagement in the Yangtze River Delta

"Chain-style" Investment Promotion Sparks Boundless Vitality

The Yangtze River Delta has long been renowned for its vibrant private sector.

Here, the focus of investment promotion is no longer on finding projects, but on how to increase “output per acre” and build world-class industrial clusters.

Therefore, for us, helping enterprises “squeeze” into the land-scarce Yangtze River Delta is a critical and arduous task.

Such achievements often carry even greater significance.

Whether it is the scattered development of Suzhou, the widespread growth of Zhejiang, or the late-comer catch-up of Anhui, Guichuan United has made in-depth strategic moves, with countless successful settlement cases.

In Shanghai, we have invested nearly 400 million yuan to build the Guchuan High-Tech Project in Fengxian District, marking a significant step forward in our heavy-asset sector.

Leveraging the strengths of our industrial big data platform and 14 years of hands-on experience in investment promotion, Guchuan United will shoulder the mission of our times and make even greater contributions to the high-quality development of the regional economy.

Hong Kong’s Global Connectivity Gains Momentum

Ningbo Welcomes a New Wave of "Opening Up"

Ningbo, where mountains meet the sea, holds a legacy spanning ancient and modern times, with its port connecting the world.

The wooden oars used by our ancestors to navigate the seas bear witness to millennia of life spent pursuing the sea. The Yuyao River and the Fenghua River converge to form the Yong River, flowing vigorously onward.

Three rivers traverse the city, converging at the “Sanjiangkou” (Three Rivers’ Mouth), around which Ningbo has thrived continuously.

In 1984, Ningbo opened its doors to the outside world. In 1987, it became one of China’s first cities with independent planning status. Leveraging its port resources, geographical advantages, and the support of the “Ningbo business community,” Ningbo—once a frontier of maritime defense—has become a “bridgehead” for China’s opening-up.

Today, the Hangzhou Bay Bridge, stretching like a dragon across the waves, further embodies the prosperity born of the sea and the “dream of transcendence” in the new era.

A series of statistics demonstrates that “Ningbo’s opportunity has arrived.”

In 2021, Ningbo’s total industrial output value of enterprises above designated size exceeded 2 trillion yuan for the first time, ranking first in Zhejiang; industrial added value reached 629.8 billion yuan, rising to 7th place among Chinese cities; the number of industrial enterprises above designated size surpassed 10,000; and the city ranked 6th among “China’s Top 100 Cities for Advanced Manufacturing.”

These figures demonstrate the accuracy of Ningbo’s strategy of building the city on industry and the high quality of its economy.

Traditional manufacturing is transitioning toward branding, intelligence, and digitalization; “single-champion” enterprises are focusing on their specific sectors to achieve “greater precision”; and emerging enterprises are pursuing both technological innovation and market expansion…

Ningbo manufacturing is riding a strong wind with full sails, continuing to set out on its journey.